Newcastle falls to Class 3A Jim Ned at Lu Allen

Paige Hauger’s team has already shown it can hang with the much bigger schools.

Newcastle, the lone Class 1A team to compete in the Lu Allen Tournament over the weekend, earned just one win in the two days, but took several teams to a final set. 

The Ladycats only win of the tournament came against Class 2A Archer City, who appeared in the state tournament a season ago. 

Newcastle hung with Jim Ned in its third game of the day but fell in three sets (15-25, 25-22 and 19-25). 

The Lady Indians stormed out to an early lead of 10-3 before a Kelsey Shields kill inched the Ladycats closer at 13-5. An ace from Arryn Eli narrowed the deficit to 19-11 before Jim Ned closed the opening set on a 6-4 run to take the set, 25-15.

Hauger rallied her squad in set two and it showed. Newcastle trailed 7-6 before Hannah Manos spun an ace to tie the set. Kelsi New then went on to record a kill followed by an ace from Hannah Shanks to give the Ladycats a 10-8 lead. The advantage grew when New ripped a kill giving Newcastle a 20-16 lead. A service error from the Lady Indians went out of bounce, giving the Ladycats a 25-22 lead in the second set to even the match at a game apiece. 

Newcastle’s win in the second set seemed to fuel their play at the beginning of the third set. Eli served three kills and all....

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